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"Executed prisoners are main source of Chinese organ donations"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this new piece from The Guardian.  Here are the basic details: Two-thirds of organ donors in China are executed prisoners, state media reported today, as health officials launched a national donation system.  The authorities have previously acknowledged that corneas, kidneys and other body parts from criminals have been transplanted.  But the new figure offers a startling insight into the scale of the country's reliance on death-row inmates, despite laws supposed to curb the use of their organs. Officials hope the new scheme will tackle the thriving black market in body parts, and encourage voluntary donation, which remains far below demand.  The state newspaper China Daily said that about one million people needed transplants each year ? but only 1% received them...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).